Display figure



NOV. 3, 1936. I 5; c GOODSlLL 2,059,338

DISPLAY FIGURE Filed April 9, 1934 H l'71/ve77/Z0 A ZZorh/e .5 [flZgSh/KMM%ZQ Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to display figures and manikins and particularlyto a display figure simulating a human body and adaptable for adjustmentin various postures and positions.

It is an object of my invention to provide a comparatively simple andhighly eflicient display figure of the type referred to having joints,members and limbs so constructed that it may be positioned in any of thenatural postures of the human body.

More specifically it is an object to provide a manikin or display figurehaving a body constructed for the most part of relatively light pliablematerial and having joints and reinforcements so associated with saidbody that the hands, arms, legs, hips and trunk of the body may be bentand positioned in the various normal positions of the human body andwill be retained in the adjusted positions until another position orpose is desired.

Another object is the provision of a manikin or figure of the classdescribed which may be manufactured at relatively low cost, which isrugged in structure and will withstand continued usage and which may bedisassembled for storage or shipment purposes.

' These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morefully set forth in the following description made inconnection with theaccompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view partly in perspective and partly in vertical sectionshowing an embodiment of my invention positioned in upright or standingposition;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on a larger scale showing the manner inwhich one of the arms is detachably and adjustably mounted on the trunkof the figure and also showing the joint formed at the shoulder;

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating one of the toothed retaining disksdetached;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the hands of thefigure, some portions broken away and others shown in section, and

Fig. 7 is a detail viewshowing a suitable form of joint constructionutilized in the embodiment disclosed.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises four separate mainparts, first a bust or trunk portion B integrally carrying the head ofthe figure, secondly, a lower body portion L which includes the hips,legs and feet of the figure and third and fourth, a pair of detachablearms A as shown integrally formed with the 5 hands H carried at theextremities thereof. The several main body portions are preferablyconstructed from suitable pliable material, such as rubber or a rubbercomposition and the greater portions of the several body members arehollow to decrease weight and facilitate assembly of the joints andreinforcements. It will, of course, be obvious that the head may beseparately formed from the bust and that likewise the legs if desiredmay be separately formed and connected with the torso.

Referring now to the lower body construction L, the legs and greaterportion of the torso are integrally cast or constructed and as shown thetorso and hip portions are hollow, as are the legs from points justbelow the knees upwardly. The feet F of the body as shown are integrallyformed with the legs but are vulcanized up tothe ankle line a: to affordhardened extremities.

Embedded within the lower portion of the leg and extendinglongitudinally thereof is a rigid reinforcing tube 8 and within and.projecting from this tube is an elongated flexible member of such naturethat it may be bent when considerable force is applied, but will retainits bent or adjusted shape until it is again desired to apply force andchange the same. The several joints of my figure are formed by exposingor uncovering sections of the shape retaining flexible members andproviding means for limiting the bending at said joints in the directionand to the extent desired.

As shown I employ for the flexible shape retaining elements strongflexible conduits of the type comprising a multiplicity of connectedannu- 40 lar elements so connected that the several elements areadjustable angularly with respect to each other and are frictionallyheld in adjusted position until considerable force is applied to changethe position. In the legs the reinforcing 45 tube 8 extends from a pointjust above the ankle line as to the knee joint line 1/. The flexibleshape retaining element 9 utilized in each leg extends through the tube8 and is embedded in the' ankle and foot portions of the legs, theexposed portion of element 9 between the lower end of tube 8 and theankle line :1: being adapted to be bent to adjust the foot in variouspositions relative to the lower portion of the leg. The upper end ofshape retaining element 9 projects considerably beyond the upper end oftube 8 and is telescoped in the lower portion of a reinforcing tube IE!extending between the top of the leg and a point just above the kneejoint line y. A transverse attachment plate II is fixed within thehollow portion of the leg a short distance above the knee joint line 1;and is centrally apertured to receive and position the lower end ofreinforcing tube l6. A collar 12 may be provided if desired to surroundthe lower portion of tube and is affixed to the bottom of plate H Thelower end of tube in and the upper end of reinforcing tube 8 are formedas shown in Fig. 7 with abutment portions disposed at the front of thefigure and with cut-away portions at the back and sides of the figureexposing a small section of the flexible shape retaining element 9 topermit of its bending to adjust the angulation of the lower leg portionwith reference to the upper leg portion. The upper end of reinforcingtube [0 extends through a rigid transverse mounting plate I 3 fixedwithin the upper end of the leg and as shown is rigidly secured to plate[3 bymeans of the collar M which is aflixed to the top of plate l3 andto which the tubev II] is secured as shown by a set screw Ma. At theupper end or waist portion of the body member L a heavy transversemounting plate I5 is afl lxed distending and shaping the peripheral wallof the waist portion and cemented or otherwise secured thereto. Thisplate is may have a circular hand aperture [5a formed therein tofacilitate assembly of the joints and reinforcements within the upperportions of the legs. A heavy flexible shape retaining element l6depends from plate and is fixed to the bottom thereof by means of acollar I! the attachment flange of which is secured to the bottom ofplate 15. A cotter pin or other securing element [13 connects the upperend of shape retaining member IS with the collar. The lower end of shaperetaining element I6 projects for some distance into the upper end ofthe reinforcing tube It! and is telescopically anchored there.

Both legs of the figure are similarly equipped with joints andreinforcing elements as described.

The lower edge or waist portion of the bust B of the figure is providedwith a transverse mounting plate l9 cemented or otherwise secured withinthe peripheral Wall of the body member and the bottom of this plate mayhave a recessed main portion providing a flange which telescopes over ashouldered portion of the plate l5 to join the bust with the lowerportion of the body.

The hands and arms of the body are provided with joints andreinforcements in general similar to those of the legs and to this endeach hand has embedded therein adjacent the wrist a head or castingwhich as shown integrally carries five outwardly extending and divergingstuds 200. over which are slipped the inner ends of the smallreinforcing tubes 2 I. Reinforcing tubes 2! extend from said head 20 tothe points within the hand corresponding to the large knuckles of ahuman hand. Flexible shape-retaining elements 22 extend through tubes 2!from points adjacent the studs 20a to points adjacent the tips of thefingers of the hand. Small reinforcing tubes 23 surround theintermediate portions of the shape-retaining elements 22 extending fromthe outer ends of tubes 2| topoints adjacent to the second joints orknuckles of a human hand and a third series of reinforcing tubes 24surround shape-retaining elements 22 and extend from the outer ends oftubes 23 to points adjacent the first finger joints of a human hand. Inthe tips of the fingers are embedded additional and relatively shortreinforcing tubes 25 surrounding the outer ends of shape-retainingelements 22 and extending from the outer ends of tubes 24 to pointsadjacent the extremities of the fingers.

Between each of the pairs of adjacent reinforcing tubes a portion of theflexible shape-retaining element 22 is exposed by cutting the ends ofthe adjacent tubes in the manner shown in Fig. 7 with abutments providedto prevent the backward or unnatural swinging of the joints of thefingers and to permit normal swinging and adjustment of the severalfingers.

The tubes 2|, 23, 24, and 25 are all preferably embedded in the materialfrom which the hand is cast or otherwise produced.

A flexible shape-retaining element 26 of the type utilized in the otherjoints of the figureis fixed at one end in a socket provided at theinner end of head 20 and extends through a rigid reinforcing tube 21extending longitudinally of the forearm and terminating as shown justbelow the elbow. Shape-retaining element 26 is exposed for a few inchesat the elbow portion of the arm and then passes through a reinforcingtube 28 which is mounted between and in a pair of transverse mountingplates 29 and 30 respectively. The upper end of tube 28 is secured tothe upper mounting plate 30 by suitable means such as the collar 3!which is attached to plate 30 and a cotter pin or other fastening means32 passes through the collar, through the tube and also, as shown,through the flexible shape-retaining element 26. A few inches of theupper end of shaperetaining element 26 is exposed to form a shoulderjoint for the arm and the outer extremity of element 26 is fixed to adisk 33 which closes the hollow end of the arm at the shoulder. Disk 33as clearly shown in Fig. 5 has on its outer surface a series of radiallydisposed ribs or corrugations 33a which are adapted tomesh withcomplementary ribs of a disk 34 fixed to the arm connection portions ofthe bust B. The disk 33:]. of the arm also carries an axial elongatedstud 33b which frictionally engages an apertured central portion of thedisk 34 and projects therethroughfor detachable connection of the armwith the bust of the body.

In many instances it is desirable to utilize the display figure in anerect or standing posture and to this end a suitable broad base 35 ofadequate weight is provided rigidly carrying an upstanding supportingrod 350. which is adapted to project telescopically into theshape-retaining element 9 which extends from the sole of the foot pastthe knee joint of one of the legs of the figure. The introduction ofthis rod rigidifies the knee joint and cooperates with the base 35 insupporting the figure in erect posture.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided avery life-like manikin or display figure having shape-retaining jointscorresponding to the important joints of the human body. It will furtherbe seen that the arms, shoulders, hips, torso, knees and feet of thefigure as well as the fingers of the hands may be positioned by bendingthe pliable casing and the shape-retaining elements into most of thenormal postures or positions of the corresponding members of ahuman'body. The cooperation of the reinforcing tubes, exposed portionsof the shapesustaining elements,- mounting plates for the tubes and thepliable casings is such that wide adjustment may be made withoutdeforming the contour of the limbs and other parts of the body. Myfigure is adapted for wide general use as a part of a display or asmeans for showing clothing and other merchandise.

No unsightly joints are utilized between the various body parts of thefigure and all of the reinforcements, shape-retaining elements and.joints are concealed within the body. The figure is therefore adaptedfor displaying almost any type of clothing, including lingerie, bathingsuits, as well as all types of dresses, gowns, coats, hats, shoes, etc.

The construction of the torso and waist portion of the body is such thatthe figure may be adjusted into various sitting and bending positionsand the arms, of course, have axial adjustment by means of the disks 33and 34 and have most of the joint adjustments of which the human body iscapable.

For shipment'or storage the arms may be readily detached from the bustand the bust portion may be also detached from the lower body portion byseparating the large plates I5 and I9.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of flexibleconduits of the type illustrated for the shape-retaining flexibleelements, but contemplate substitution of any solid or tubularshape-retaining element which may be bent under considerable force andwhich will retain its shape when so bent and have sufiicient rigidity toretain the casing in the desired adjusted position until it is forciblyadjusted to another position.

It will further be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details and proportions of the parts and combinations of parts,without departing from the scope of my invention, which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed anddefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a display figure, a tubular casing simulating at least a portionof a human body, a pair of rigid reinforcing tubes mountedlongitudinally within said casing and having opposing ends, a transversemounting plate fixed to said casing therewithin and with which one ofsaid tubes is connected for preventing longitudinal movement of saidtube relatively to said plate, means for connecting the other tube withsaid casing, a fiexible shape-retaining element within the opposing endsof said reinforcing tubes, the opposing ends of said reinforcing tubeshaving projecting abutment portions which limit bending of saidshaperetaining element in one direction and having cut-away portionswhich permit bending of said element in certain directions.

2. In a display figure, a pliable casing simulating at least a portionof an animate body, a pair of rigid reinforcing tubes mountedlongitudinally within said casing with their ends opposed, means forconnecting said tubes with said casing to maintain the positions of saidtubes relative to the peripheral wall of said casing substantiallyconstant, a flexible shape-retaining element mounted within the opposingends of said reinforcing tubes and being the only means for connectingsaid tubes, the opposing ends of said reinforcing tubes havingprojecting abutment portions which limit bending of said shape-retainingelement in one direction and having cut-away portions which permitbending of said element in certain directions.

GUY C. GOODSILL.

